Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Milton

790

  Of knowledge, nor was God-head from her thought.

  Greedily she ingorg’d without restraint,

  And knew not eating Death:62 Satiate at length,

  And hight’n’d as with Wine, jocond and boon,63

  Thus to her self she pleasingly began.

  795

  O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees

  In Paradise, of operation blest

  To Sapience,64 hitherto obscur’d, infam’d,65

  And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end

  Created; but henceforth my early care,

  800

  Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise

  Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease

  Of thy full branches offer’d free to all;

  Till dieted by thee I grow mature

  In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know;

  805

  Though others envie what they cannot give;

  For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here

  Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe,

  Best guide; not following thee, I had remaind

  In ignorance, thou op’nst Wisdoms way,

  810

  And giv’st access, though secret she retire.

  And I perhaps am secret; Heav’n is high,

  High and remote to see from thence distinct

  Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps

  May have diverted from continual watch

  815

  Our great Forbidder, safe with all his Spies

  About him. But to Adam in what sort

  Shall I appeer? shall I to him make known

  As yet my change, and give him to partake

  Full happiness with me, or rather not,

  820

  But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power

  Without Copartner? so to add what wants

  In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love,

  And render me more equal, and perhaps,

  A thing not undesirable, somtime

  825

  Superior; for inferior who is free?

  This may be well: but what if God have seen,

  And Death ensue? then I shall be no more,

  And Adam wedded to another Eve,

  Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;

  830

  A death to think. Confirm’d then I resolve,

  Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe:

  So dear I love him, that with him all deaths

  I could endure, without him live no life.

  So saying, from the Tree her step she turnd,

  835

  But first low Reverence don, as to the power

  That dwelt within, whose presence had infus’d

  Into the plant sciential66 sap, deriv’d

  From Nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while

  Waiting desirous her return, had wove

  840

  Of choicest Flowrs a Garland to adorn

  Her Tresses, and her rural labours crown,

  As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvest Queen.

  Great joy he promis’d to his thoughts, and new

  Solace in her return, so long delay’d;

  845

  Yet oft his heart, divine67 of somthing ill,

  Misgave him; hee the faultring measure felt;

  And forth to meet her went, the way she took

  That Morn when first they parted; by the Tree

  Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met,

  850

  Scarse from the Tree returning; in her hand

  A bough of fairest fruit that downie smil’d,

  New gatherd, and ambrosial smell diffus’d.

  To him she hasted, in her face excuse

  Came Prologue, and Apologie to prompt,

  855

  Which with bland words at will she thus addrest.

  Hast thou not wonderd, Adam, at my stay?

  Thee I have misst, and thought it long, depriv’d

  Thy presence, agonie of love till now

  Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more

  860

  Mean I to trie, what rash untri’d I sought,

  The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange

  Hath bin the cause, and wonderful to hear:

  This Tree is not as we are told, a Tree

  Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown

  865

  Op’ning the way, but of Divine effect

  To open Eyes, and make them Gods who taste;

  And hath bin tasted such: the Serpent wise,

  Or not restraind as wee, or not obeying,

  Hath eat’n of the fruit, and is become,

  870

  Not dead, as we are threat’n’d, but thenceforth

  Endu’d with human voice and human sense,

  Reasoning to admiration, and with mee

  Perswasively hath so prevaild, that I

  Have also tasted, and have also found

  875

  Th’ effects to correspond, opener mine Eyes,

  Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart,

  And growing up to Godhead; which for thee

  Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise.

  For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss,

  880

  Tedious, unshar’d with thee, and odious soon.

  Thou therfore also taste, that equal Lot

  May joyn us, equal Joy, as equal Love;

  Least thou not tasting, different degree

  Disjoyn us, and I then too late renounce

  885

  Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit.

  Thus Eve with Countnance blithe her storie told;

  But in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd.

  On th’ other side, Adam, soon as he heard

  The fatal Trespass don by Eve, amaz’d,

  890

  Astonied68 stood and Blank, while horror chill

  Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relax’d;

  From his slack hand the Garland wreath’d for Eve

  Down drop’d, and all the faded Roses shed:

  Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length

  895

  First to himself he inward silence broke.

  O fairest of Creation, last and best

  Of all Gods works, Creature in whom excell’d

  Whatever can to sight or thought be formd,

  Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!

  900

  How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost,

  Defac’t, deflowrd, and now to Death devote?69

  Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress

  The strict forbiddance, how to violate

  The sacred Fruit forbidd’n! som cursed fraud

  905

  Of Enemie hath beguil’d thee, yet unknown,

  And mee with thee hath mind, for with thee

  Certain my resolution is to Die;

  How can I live without thee, how forgoe

  Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn’d,

  910

  To live again in these wild Woods forlorn?

  Should God create another Eve, and I

  Another Rib afford, yet loss of thee

  Would never from my heart; no no, I feel

  The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh,

  915

  Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State

  Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.

  So having said, as one from sad dismay

  Recomforted, and after thoughts disturb’d

  Submitting to what seemd remediless,

  920

  Thus in calm mood his Words to Eve he turnd.

  Bold deed thou hast presum’d, adventrous Eve,

  And peril great provok’t, who thus hast dar’d

  Had it bin onely coveting to Eye

  That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence,

  925

  Mu
ch more to taste it under bann to touch.

  But past who can recall, or don undoe?

  Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate, yet so

  Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact

  Is not so hainous now, foretasted Fruit,

  930

  Profan’d first by the Serpent, by him first

  Made common and unhallowd ere our taste;

  Nor yet on him found deadly, he yet lives,

  Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live as Man

  Higher degree of Life, inducement strong

  935

  To us, as likely tasting to attain

  Proportional ascent, which cannot be

  But to be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods.

  Nor can I think that God, Creator wise,

  Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy

  940

  Us his prime Creatures, dignifi’d so high,

  Set over all his Works, which in our Fall,

  For us created, needs with us must fail,

  Dependent made; so God shall uncreate,

  Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour loose,

  945

  Not well conceav’d of God, who though his Power

  Creation could repeat, yet would be loath

  Us to abolish, least the Adversary

  Triumph and say; Fickle their State whom God

  Most Favors, who can please him long; Mee first

  950

  He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next?

  Matter of scorn, not to be giv’n the Foe.

  However I with thee have fixt my Lot,

  Certain70 to undergoe like doom, if Death

  Consort with thee, Death is to mee as Life;

  955

  So forcible within my heart I feel

  The Bond of Nature draw me to my own,

  My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;

  Our State cannot be severd, we are one,

  One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose my self.

  960

  So Adam, and thus Eve to him repli’d.

  O glorious trial of exceeding Love,

  Illustrious evidence, example high!

  Ingaging me to emulate, but short

  Of thy perfection, how shall I attain,

  965

  Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung,

  And gladly of our Union hear thee speak,

  One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff

  This day affords, declaring thee resolv’d,

  Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread

  970

  Shall separate us, linkt in Love so dear,

  To undergoe with mee one Guilt, one Crime,

  If any be, of tasting this fair Fruit,

  Whose vertue, for of good still good proceeds,

  Direct, or by occasion hath presented

  975

  This happie trial of thy Love, which else

  So eminently never had bin known.

  Were it I thought Death menac’t would ensue

  This my attempt, I would sustain alone

  The worst, and not perswade thee, rather die

  980

  Deserted, then oblige thee with a fact71

  Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assur’d

  Remarkably so late of thy so true,

  So faithful Love unequald; but I feel

  Farr otherwise th’ event, not Death, but Life

  985

  Augmented, op’n’d Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes,

  Taste so Divine, that what of sweet before

  Hath toucht my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.

  On my experience, Adam, freely taste,

  And fear of Death deliver to the Winds.

  990

  So saying, she embrac’d him, and for joy

  Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love

  Had so enobl’d, as of choice t’ incurr

  Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death.

  In recompence (for such compliance bad

  995

  Such recompence best merits) from the bough

  She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit

  With liberal hand: he scrupl’d not to eat

  Against his better knowledge, not deceav’d,72

  But fondly overcome with Femal charm.73

  1000

  Earth trembl’d from her entrails, as again

  In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan,

  Skie lowr’d, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops

  Wept at compleating of the mortal Sin

  Original; while Adam took no thought,

  1005

  Eating his fill, nor Eve to iterate

  Her former trespass fear’d, the more to soothe

  Him with her lov’d societie, that now

  As with new Wine intoxicated both

  They swim in mirth, and fansie that they feel

  1010

  Divinitie within them breeding wings

  Wherewith to scorn the Earth: but that false Fruit

  Farr other operation first displaid,

  Carnal desire enflaming, hee on Eve

  Began to cast lascivious Eyes, she him

  1015

  As wantonly repaid; in Lust they burn:

  Till Adam thus ‘gan Eve to dalliance move.

  Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste,74

  And elegant, of Sapience no small part,

  Since to each meaning savour we apply,

  1020

  And Palate call judicious; I the praise

  Yeild thee, so well this day thou hast purvey’d.

  Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstain’d

  From this delightful Fruit, nor known till now

  True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be

  1025

  In things to us forbidden, it might be wish’d,

  For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten.

  But come, so well refresh’t, now let us play,

  As meet is, after such delicious Fare;

  For never did thy Beautie since the day

  1030

  I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn’d

  With all perfections, so enflame my sense

  With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now

  Then ever, bountie of this vertuous75 Tree.

  So said he, and forbore not glance or toy

  1035

  Of amorous intent, well understood

  Of Eve, whose Eye darted contagious Fire.

  Her hand he seis’d, and to a shadie bank,

  Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr’d

  He led her nothing loath; Flowrs were the Couch,

  1040

  Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel,

  And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap.

  There they thir fill of Love and Loves disport

  Took largely, of thir mutual guilt the Seal,

  The solace of thir sin,76 till dewie sleep

  1045

  Oppress’d them, wearied with thir amorous play.

  Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit,

  That with exhilerating vapour bland

  About thir spirits had plaid, and inmost powers

  Made err, was now exhal’d, and grosser sleep

  1050

  Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams

  Encumberd, now had left them, up they rose

  As from unrest, and each the other viewing,

  Soon found thir Eyes how op’n’d, and thir minds

  How dark’n’d; innocence, that as a veil

  1055

  Had shadow’d them from knowing ill, was gon,

  Just confidence, and native righteousness,

  And honour from about them, naked left

  To guiltie shame: hee cover’d, but his Robe

  Uncover’d more. So rose the Danite strong

  1060

  Herculean Samson from the Harlot-lap

  Of Philistean Dali
lah, and wak’d

  Shorn of his strength. They destitute and bare

  Of all thir vertue: silent, and in face

  Confounded long they sate, as struck’n mute,

  1065

  Till Adam, though not less then Eve abash’t,

  At length gave utterance to these words constraind.

  O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear

  To that false Worm, of whomsoever taught

  To counterfet Mans voice, true in our Fall,

  1070

  False in our promis’d Rising; since our Eyes

  Op’n’d we find indeed, and find we know

  Both Good and Evil, Good lost, and Evil got,

  Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know,

  Which leaves us naked thus, of Honour void,

  1075

  Of Innocence, of Faith, of Puritie,

  Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind,

  And in our Faces evident the signes

  Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store;

  Ev’n shame, the last77 of evils; of the first

  1080

  Be sure then. How shall I behold the face

  Henceforth of God or Angel, earst with joy

  And rapture so oft beheld? those heav’nly shapes

  Will dazle now this earthly, with thir blaze

  Insufferably bright. O might I here

  1085

  In solitude live savage, in some glade

  Obscur’d, where highest Woods impenetrable

  To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir umbrage broad

  And brown78 as Evening: Cover me ye Pines,

  Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs

  1090

  Hide me, where I may never see them more.

  But let us now, as in bad plight, devise

  What best may for the present serve to hide

  The Parts of each from other, that seem most

  To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen,

  1095

  Some Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd,

  And girded on our loyns, may cover round

  Those middle parts, that this new commer, Shame,

  There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.